Chapter 233: Being Honest With The Protagonist

Calling him helpless or spoiled was ridiculous.

Then...

Lu Chen’s thoughts shifted.

[Qingya will understand eventually.]

Rose sighed.

Again.

[Once I crush Shen Tian...]

[She’ll understand who she should rely on.]

Rose’s expression flattened.

She stood.

"Boss."

Lu Chen stopped.

"What?"

Rose folded her arms.

"Why do you care so much about Gu Qingya?"

He stared.

"She’s my fiancée."

"Arranged fiancée."

"Same thing."

"No."

Lu Chen frowned.

"What?"

Rose stared directly at him.

"It’s not the same thing."

"Rose..."

"Does she actually want to marry you?"

Silence.

Immediately...

His thoughts reached her.

[She doesn’t know what she wants.]

Rose’s stomach sank.

Lu Chen answered aloud.

"She’ll come around."

Rose slowly nodded.

"Right."

Lu Chen turned back toward the training dummy.

Rose watched him.

Something inside her changed.

Not loyalty.

Not yet.

She had too much history with him for that.

But admiration?

That was cracking.

Fast.

. . .

Back at the Shen estate...

Shen Tian stood on the private training field.

Across from him...

Shen Yan rolled her shoulders.

"Ready?"

Shen Tian smiled.

"Whenever."

She disappeared.

BOOM!

Their forearms collided.

Air exploded outward.

Shen Yan immediately rotated.

Kick.

Shen Tian leaned backward.

Her foot passed inches above his face.

His hand shot upward.

Caught her ankle.

Shen Yan didn’t panic.

She twisted with his grip.

Her other leg came around.

Shen Tian released her.

Blocked.

BAM!

Both separated.

Shen Yan landed several meters away.

Shen Tian smiled.

"Better."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You’re becoming arrogant."

"Becoming?"

Shen Yan almost smiled.

Then...

She attacked.

Faster.

Punch.

Block.

Elbow.

Parry.

Knee.

Redirect.

Shen Yan’s fighting style was ruthless.

There were no unnecessary movements.

No fancy attacks.

Everything existed for one purpose.

End the threat.

That was exactly why Shen Tian liked training with her.

She wasn’t a protagonist trying to show off.

She wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

She wanted to win.

Shen Tian’s green eyes followed every movement.

Then...

His perception shifted.

He stopped watching her limbs.

Instead...

He watched her Qi.

Shoulder.

Hip.

Leg.

The Qi moved first.

The body followed.

Shen Tian’s eyes sharpened.

There.

Shen Yan attacked.

Shen Tian moved before she did.

Her fist missed.

His body entered her guard.

Palm.

Stopped.

One inch from her chest.

Silence.

Shen Yan froze.

Shen Tian smiled.

"Got you."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Again."

"Big Sis."

"Again."

"You lost."

"Again."

Shen Tian laughed.

"Fine."

Three hours later...

Shen Yan lay flat on the grass.

Shen Tian stood nearby.

Both were breathing heavily.

She stared at the sky.

"I hate this."

Shen Tian smiled.

"You hate losing."

"To you."

"That’s worse?"

"Much worse."

Shen Tian extended his hand.

She took it.

He pulled her up.

Shen Yan studied him.

Then...

"You’ve changed."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"You’re actually training seriously."

He became quiet.

She continued.

"You were always strong."

"Always talented."

"But sometimes..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You were lazy."

Shen Tian stared.

Then...

He laughed.

"You’re right."

Shen Yan blinked.

She clearly hadn’t expected him to admit it.

Shen Tian looked toward his hand.

Golden Qi gathered around his fingers.

"I don’t want strength I don’t understand."

He slowly closed his fist.

"I don’t want to just have more Qi."

"I want control."

"Technique."

"Experience."

"I want every part of my strength to belong to me."

Shen Yan smiled.

"Good."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"Besides..."

His expression became arrogant.

"Lu Chen seems convinced his battlefield experience makes him special."

Shen Yan’s eyes narrowed.

Shen Tian smiled.

"So I’ll beat him there too."

. . .

That evening...

The Tang Family residence glowed beneath warm lights.

Tang Meilin had specifically asked her father to keep the dinner small.

Her father had agreed.

Technically.

There were still servants everywhere.

Private security.

A personal chef.

And a dining room larger than most apartments.

But...

For the Tang Family?

Small.

Tang Meilin stood near the window.

She checked the time.

6:53 PM.

Then looked outside.

Nothing.

6:54.

She looked again.

Her mother noticed.

"Waiting for someone?"

Tang Meilin immediately turned.

"No."

"You’ve checked the driveway six times."

"I have not."

"Seven."

Tang Meilin stared.

"Mother."

"I’m only observing."

"It’s dinner."

"Yes."

"Father invited him."

"You called him."

Tang Meilin closed her eyes.

"Please stop."

A vehicle approached.

Her eyes immediately moved toward the window.

Her mother laughed.

Tang Meilin’s cheeks turned red.

"...I hate you."

"No, you don’t."

Shen Tian arrived alone.

No convoy.

No bodyguards.

No Shen Yan secretly hiding somewhere.

At least...

He hoped not.

Tang Jianhong personally greeted him.

"Young Master Shen."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Mr. Tang."

The two shook hands.

Tang Jianhong’s expression became serious.

"I owe you a debt."

"You don’t."

"You saved my daughter."

Shen Tian glanced toward Tang Meilin.

She stood nearby.

Then he looked back.

"I helped."

Tang Jianhong laughed.

"Modest."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t tell anyone."

Tang Meilin laughed softly.

Dinner began.

And surprisingly...

It was normal.

Business.

Cultivation.

Technology.

Family.

Tang Jianhong asked Shen Tian questions.

Shen Tian answered.

Tang Meilin mostly listened.

And the longer she listened...

The more confused she became.

Because Shen Tian wasn’t what she’d expected.

He was arrogant.

Definitely.

Sometimes ridiculously so.

But...

He didn’t constantly try proving himself.

He listened when others spoke.

He asked questions.

He joked with her parents.

He disagreed without becoming offended.

There was a confidence around him that felt...

Natural.

Like he didn’t need anyone else’s approval.

Tang Meilin found herself watching him.

Then...

Shen Tian looked toward her.

Their eyes met.

Tang Meilin immediately looked down.

Her heart jumped.

She frowned.

Stop.

She reached for her water.

Her mother noticed.

Of course.

But mercifully...

Said nothing.

. . .

After dinner...

Tang Meilin walked Shen Tian outside.

The night air was cool.

For several moments...

Neither spoke.

Then...

"You didn’t have to come."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"You invited me."

"I know."

"So why wouldn’t I?"

Tang Meilin hesitated.

"You probably have..."

She gestured vaguely.

"A lot happening."

"I do."

"Then why come?"

Shen Tian smiled.

"Because you wanted to thank me."

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